7 packing mistakes that cause customs delays.

1 Undervaluing the shipment

Declaring a value below the true transaction price — to reduce the recipient's duty or to "help" on a gift — is the most damaging mistake of all. It is customs fraud. It risks fines, seizure and delay, and it quietly voids your transit insurance, because a claim can only pay out up to the value you declared.

The fix: declare the real price, in the real currency, every time — including for samples, gifts and warranty returns. Never write zero.

2 Vague item descriptions

"Gift", "samples", "parts", "personal items" — these tell a customs officer nothing, so the parcel gets pulled for a query. Description quality is the single biggest lever most senders have over clearance speed.

The fix: describe what the item is, what it is made of, and what it is for. Write "10 men's cotton T-shirts" or "1 stainless-steel water pump for irrigation", not "clothing" or "machine part".

3 Wrong or missing HS code

The HS (Harmonized System) code is how customs classifies your goods and sets the duty. A wrong code means the wrong duty and, often, a hold; a missing code slows manual assessment. With low-value duty exemptions shrinking worldwide, the code matters more than it used to.

The fix: put the correct HS code on every line of the commercial invoice. Unsure? Describe the item precisely and our customs partners can classify it. See the customs guide for how HS codes are built.

4 Missing or mismatched invoice copies

A commercial invoice that is stuffed loose in the box, or whose values do not match the waybill, is a guaranteed delay. Customs typically wants one original plus two copies, and every figure must reconcile with the waybill.

The fix: put one copy inside the parcel and attach the others outside in a documents pouch with the waybill. Check that the values, weights and addresses on the invoice match the waybill exactly.

5 Poor packaging

A crushed or burst box gets pulled aside, re-packed and re-weighed by the carrier — and if contents spill, they can be lost or reclassified. Under-packing also invites damage claims that undervaluing has already made hard to pay out. Remember, too, that a needlessly big box costs more, because you are billed on volumetric weight when it exceeds actual weight.

The fix: use a rigid double-wall carton sized to the contents, cushion on all six sides, and seal with proper packing tape in an H-pattern. Right-sizing the box protects the goods and the price — see the packaging guide and volumetric guide.

6 Prohibited or restricted items

Some items are banned outright; others need a permit or special handling. Lithium batteries, aerosols, perfumes and other liquids, certain foods and agricultural products, and anything on a country's restricted list will stop a parcel at the border — or on the ground before it even flies.

The fix: check before you pack. Review the prohibited and restricted items and dangerous goods guides, and if in any doubt ask us at quote time so we can arrange the correct paperwork or advise an alternative.

7 No recipient contact details

Customs and the delivery agent frequently need to reach the recipient — to confirm details, request an ID or tax number, or arrange duty payment. Without a working phone number and complete address, the parcel simply sits, accruing storage.

The fix: provide the recipient's full name, complete physical address with postal code, and a mobile number in international format, plus their tax/ID number where the destination requires one. Tell them a parcel is coming and that customs may call.

✅ The pre-send checklist

Getting a quote is the moment to lock most of this in — see what drives parcel cost, and note the 2026 customs changes that make accurate paperwork matter more than ever.

❓ Frequently asked questions